Economics at Florida Southern College

Florida Southern's economics program faces a challenging reality: estimated debt of $26,000 exceeds what graduates at comparable Florida programs typically carry ($21,500 median), while first-year earnings of around $47,300 trail the national benchmark by over $4,000. That debt load—higher than 75% of economics programs report nationally—creates a tighter financial picture than many alternatives, particularly when public universities like UCF and USF produce similar earnings outcomes with likely lower price tags.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 isn't catastrophic, but it matters when you're already starting below the national earning power for economics graduates. Similar programs across Florida suggest first-year earnings in the high $40,000s, which means your child would be dedicating a substantial portion of early income to loan payments while peers at top Florida programs like University of Tampa are pulling in $7,000 more annually. The private school premium doesn't appear to translate into a meaningful earnings advantage here.

For a mid-sized private college charging above-market debt loads, you'd want to see either stronger career outcomes or a compelling reason the environment justifies the cost. The estimated figures here—drawn from peer programs because Florida Southern's economics cohort is too small to report publicly—suggest you should have a frank conversation about whether the campus experience is worth potentially $26,000 more than what a comparable education at a Florida public university would cost.